Odometer-reset mechanism



March 3l, 1931.

R. O, HELGEBY ODOMETER RESET MECHANISM Filed DeG. 7. 1929 ya zi z/ zz @No1 neig Patented Mar. 31, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RALPH 0. HELGEBY, OF FLINT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGlOR-TO A C SPARK PLUG COMPANY, OF FLINT, MICHIGAN, A COMPANYl OF MICHIGAN oDoMETEn-RESET MECHANISM Application led December This invention relates to measuring instruments and particularly to the odometer, constituting a part of a combined'speedometer and odometer.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved resetting mechanism for the trip set. A further object is to provide resetting mechanism wherein the position of the reset stem may be readily adjusted to 1 any one of a plurality of positions.

'Other objects and advantages will be understood from the following description.

In the drawing, Figure l is a View in side elevation partly 1n section. 'Figure 2 is a view in front elevation partly in section.

Figure 3 is a sectional view of a modified form.

Referring by reference characters to drawing, numeral 5 represents a frame, preferably die cast, for carrying the moving parts of the instrument. While my novel odometer reset may be used in other relations, I

' have shown it as used with an Aodometer associated with a speedometer of the conical speed cup type. Frame 5 is located within a casing, 7, havin a dial plate, 9, a glass, 11,

and a bezel, 13, t ese parts being assembled in an instrument board, 14. The magnet, 15,

is in the form of a bar having inbent ends,

17. The magnet is to be rotated by the usual rotor shaft extended through frame 5 and stem 19. The usual flexible shaft, not shown,`

is to be connected to the rotor shaft and its iiexible housing is to be attached to the end of the stem, 19, in the usual manner. These elements do not constitute a part of this invention and therefore are not illustrated. A field plate, 21, surrounds the ends of the magnet and is secured to the die cast frame by fastening means, 22. Between the field plate and the magnet is a conical speed cup, 23, mounted on a spindle, 25, biased to zero reading by a spring, 27 the latter adjustable by means of an arm, 29, which arm ma be rotatable about the axis of the spindle an have an end portion 30, positioned over the end of the spindle to limit its axial movement. The frame is 'provided with two arms, and 37, carrying a shaft, 39, about which rotate the o/dometer wheels, 41, these being 7, 1929. Serial No. 412,381.

the wheels ofthe so-called season set. The wheels of this set include a decimal wheel, 41 provided with a ratchet wheel, 43, driven by a reciprocating pawl, 45, actuated by a second worm shaft, 47, of the instrument.

The hub of the decimal wheel, 41', is also provided With a pinion, 51, adapted to serve as a driving means for the Wheels of a trip set when such a trip set is used. As shown in the drawing, 53 represents a stamping within casing 7. Its arms, 55, are attached by suitable fastening means, 57, to the frame arms, 35 and 37. This secondary or subframe carries a shaft, 59, provided with the wheels, 61, of the trip set. These wheels are symmetrically arranged relative to the season set by means of a spacer, 63, and a driving sleeve 65. The driving sleeve is nonrotatably associated with the unit wheel, 61, of the trip set. The driving stem, 65, has a somewhat elongated gear, 67, engaging an idler gear, 68. This idler gear is loosely mounted on a shaft, 71, and the idler with the shaft is slidably mounted so that in one position of sliding adjustment the idler is in engagement withgear 51. Shaft 71 also carries a gear, 73, iixed thereto and suitably spaced from idler gear, 68. This gear 73 in one position of sliding adjustment of shaft 71 is in engagement with` gear element, 67, on the driving sleeve, 65, as shown in Figure 2. The sliding movement of shaft, 71, is provided by a bearing sleeve, 75, secured to the subframe and extended through the Wall of the casing as shownin Fig-ure 2. `This bearing is internally recessed to receive a spring, 77, seated against the bottom of the recess and against a flange, 79, at the end of shaft, 71. This spring normally presses shaft, 71, in an outward direction, so that the fixed gear, 73, is out of mesh with gear` 67, and so that idler gear, 68, is in mesh not only with gear, 67, but also with gear, 51. In this position it will be seen that gear, 51, operates through the idler to drive the trip set. The flexible shaft, 81, is connected at its inner end to the shaft, 71. At its outer end it has a gripping member, 83. The shaft, 81, passes through a curved casing member, 85, having at its inner end adjacent the bearing,

ber, 75, and whenv screwed in position holds the flange, of part 85 fixed in position against bearing member 75. By loosening the cap, the curved supporting member, 85, may be rotated about the axis of shaft 71, carrying l with it the flexible shaft 81. Bythis means i swung to a plurality ofpositions. It ma lines in Figure 83, may be be arranged substantially parallel to the axis of the shaft through stem 19 or it may be extended substantially vertical, as shown in full 1. Further, it may be, if desired, swung up to the front of the instrument also as suggested by the dotted lines in Figure 1 which latter position will require an opening for the reset stem in the instrument board.

In Figure 3 is a simple construction showing a modified form in which the invention may be embodied.' The part 101 is a bearing for reset stemi71. This bearing is secured to the sub-frame as before. The relation between the trip set and the season set is the same as in the form already described, representing the driving sleeve of the trip set and 51 the driving gear associated with the decimal wheel of the season set. The idler gear and the driving gear are the same as already described. A spring, 103,is seated against the outer face of the casing and engages an abutment, 105, on the reset stem.

the reset stem, with its hand grip,

.- This form employs no flexible reset stem and the position of hand grip, 83, is not adjustable as before. The reciprocation of the stem, 71', against the resistance of spring 103 disconnects the idler, 68, from its ydriving ear, 51, and makes connection between the Xed gear 73 and the gear 67.

I claim:

1. In an odometer, a slidable reset stem, a

curvilinear extension secured thereto, means to maintain fixed the curvature of said extension, and mechanism to secure said extension in positions of adjustment about the axis of said stem.

2. .The invention defined by claim 1, said extension being a exible shaft and said RALPH O. HELG BY.

means being a rigid curved tube, said tube slidably supporting said xible shaft.

3. In an odometer, a slidable reset stem, a

gear loosely mounted thereon, a spaced coaxial gear fixed on said reset stem, a 'driving gear and an odometer'l ear, sa1d loosely mounted gear meshing wit said driving gear and said odometer gear in a first position o axial adjustment of said reset stem whereby said odometer gear is driven without. rotation of lsaid reset stem, and whereby in a second position of axial adjustment of said reset stem, said loosely mounted idler gear is moved from meshing engagement with said driving gear and said fixed gea-r is moved into 

